Hi Weekly - June 10, 2016 by Muscat Media Group

OMAN’S LARGEST CIRCULATED WEEKLY — 46,760 COPIES

VOL 10 ISSUE 24 / JUNE 10, 2016

RAMADAN MUBARAK, READERS! IFTAR STARTS ON PAGE 12

THIS WEEK IN OMAN

MEET OMAN’S NEWEST CAVES A team of German and Omani scientists have uncovered a geological wonderland of new caves in Jebel Akhdar. PAGE 22

TASTE SOME SWEET OMANI INNOVATION Khawla introduces show-stopping chocolate works of art to the Muscat party scene. PAGE 20

SHARE RAMADAN MEMORIES In a special series of Ramadan personal essays, learn what Ramadan means to those who grew up celebrating the Holy Month in Muscat. PAGE 18

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Give us a shout with questions, comments, compliments, complaints, or just to say “Hi” Founder Essa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali Chairman Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali CEO Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali scottarmstrong@timesofoman.com Chief Executive Editor Scott Armstrong felicia@timesofoman.com

Executive Features Editor Felicia Campbell Features Production Editor Swati Dasgupta swati@timesofoman.com Research/Copy Editor Ashish Dubash

ashishdubash@timesofoman.com faisal@timesofoman.com

Senior Editors T. A. Ameerudheen ameerudheen@timesofoman.com Faisal Mohammed Naim Mohammed Shafeeqe

shafeeq@timesofoman.com

Associate Editors Salim Hamood Al Afifi Shruthi Nair

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shruthi@timesofoman.com

Chief Creative Officer Adonis Durado Associate Art Director Waleed Rabin Graphic Editor Antonio Farach Design Editor Sahir K.M. Lead Designer Ali Jani Designers Antonio Ismael Sandiego Geri Batara Sonny Gregory Fernandez Director of Digital Television Joe Morrison Photography MMG Photographers

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Chief Sales Officer Richard Pakenham

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Head Of Advertising & Marketing Aziz K. Baker Production Manager Shafi Shaik On The Cover Photography by Salim Al Afifi Design by Ali Jani For general inquiries or comments: HiWeekend@timesofoman.com

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PHOTOGRAPHY: SALIM AL AFIFI

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MOSQUE

MASJID NOOR ALDEEN AL SALMI VERSE

                    So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. – Al Zalzalah, Verse 7

Noor Aldeen Al Salmi is a one-year-old mosque that holds a true deﬁnition of contemporary architecture, situated just behind Fahmy Furniture in Al Khuwair. The mosque has a stylish exterior of its own; its entrance looks similar to a giant, open ice house. And, it has the best ceilings I’ve seen in town, completely covered in wooden decorations and carvings, as well as wooden architectural elements surrounding the building. The wonder continues to its interior, which is luxurious and modern too, with dark wooden ceilings, miniature rounded spotlight, and a golden chandelier.

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Have you tried any of these five? What do you think of them? Did we miss any of your favourites? Tag us on Instagram @hiweekly_oman and tell us about it on facebook.com/hiweekly

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FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

9pm to 10pm Understanding Islam

7.30pm to 9pm Stay Fit as you Fast

The Holy Month of Ramadan gives you an opportunity to purify your mind and soul and learn about Islam. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is organising a free session for visitors to the mosque every Friday, with an Imam who will share his thoughts on speciďŹ c topics. The lecture will be in English.

Yoga and meditation is known to do wonders in rejuvenating the body and the mind. During Ramadan, it helps your body to cope with the dietary changes and makes fasting easier, keeping you fresh and energetic throughout the day. Go to the Rajayoga Centre this Saturday and attend the refreshing Saturday seminar.

1st session: 4.45pm 2nd session: 5.30pm Take a Dip

10 11 12 +968 92044 0255

+968 9719 9385

AFTER IFTAR EVENTS

An amazing way to stay active and not feel lethargic during Ramadan is by indulging yourself in recreational activities and sports that do not dehydrate your body. This Ramadan join the summer swimming camp in Al Madinah Hotel and learn to swim in a fun way. +968 2452 9700

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FALAJ AL KHATMEEN

FIVE TO TRY AFLAJ

This historic 2,450 metre-long falaj is located in Barkat Al Mouz, Nizwa, and is famous for having a unique water distribution system and continuity of ﬂow throughout the year. It’s fascinating to see how one of its channels passes through Al Radeeda fortress on its way to the farmlands. Barkat Al Mouz, Nizwa

FALAJ AL MALKI A momentous landmark located in Wilayat of Izki, and considered as one of the oldest irrigation systems in Oman, this beautiful attraction was named after Malik bin Faham Al Uzdi, and is known for covering large plantations and palm groves in that area. Wilayat of Izki

FALAJ DARIS Visit one of Dakhiliyah’s largest irrigation systems in Nizwa, stretched out to about 7,990 metres. A popular tourist destination, the falaj is famous for covering gigantic green spaces in the area, especially during the rains. Falaj Daris, Nizwa

FALAJ AL MAYASSAR It is one of the oldest aﬂaj in Oman, located in Wilayat Al Rustaq. The rocky structured ancient-style water distribution system is a must-visit destination. Primarily used for irrigation and farming purposes by the locals. Al Rustaq, Al Batinah

FALAJ AL JEELA This pure-water, mountainous falaj is located in Wilayat Sur and is named after its village of Jeela. Considered as the main source of water for the villagers, its channel is used for farm irrigation as well as other household purposes. Check out the lush farmlands that the place offers. Al Jeela, Sur, Al Sharqiyah

JANNAH DREAMS Let your imagination wander to the place it’s never been before; paradise that is. Its posts are dedicated to those who admire Jannah and wish to get an imaginative glimpse at the beauty that lies ahead of us. It’s a must-follow. Instagram: @jannah_daydream

CALLIGRAPHY Hit the follow button if you are an admirer of Islamic calligraphy. The account collects and posts the best of digital artworks. Also a great place for those who are into the art of calligraphy and looking for some inspiration. Instagram: @calligraphy_artists

WORLD OF MOSQUES Insta Mosque is a one-stop for everything related to mosques. You’ll ﬁnd captivating images of mosques from around the globe — Europe to Middle East to South East Asia. Their posts showcase modern, vintage, and Islamic architectural beauty. Instagram: @insta.mosques

QURANIC SAYINGS A must-follow Instagram account, it posts beautiful motivational and inspiring quotes, and verses from the holy scripture. Your Instagram feed will be showered with daily posts and reminders. Instagram: @quransayings

UMMAH WIDE Follow Ummah Wide, a new media platform that aims at sharing latest happenings within Islamic nations around the globe, and enjoy fascinating cultural stories and experiences from fellow Muslims. Also, keep yourself up-to-date with modern developments in Islamic countries. Instagram: @ummahwide

PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED

HI SOCIAL RAMADAN INSTAGRAMS

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A F T E R - IF TA R A C T I V I T IE S

WALKING SESSIONS

After a delightful Iftar feast, it is time to ease your guilt. So push the plate aside, put on your trainers, call a friend, and head out for a long after-Iftar walking session. Here are some of the best places to burn up the extra calories. SALIM@TIMESOFOMAN.COM

PARKS

Walking at the beach in the evening has a vibe of its own, especially in Ramadan, where there is calmness and serenity. Hit your nearest beach and get your toes in the sand. • Qurum Beach • Azaiba Beach • North Al Hail Beach

Sometimes you just want lush greenery surrounding you while enjoying a walk with a friend. It is relaxing to the eye, and refreshing to the soul. • Qurum Natural Park, Qurum Timings: 8am to 11pm • Riyam Park, Muttrah Timings: 6.30am to 12am • Al Sahwa Park, Al Mawaleh Timings: 9am to 12am

NEIGHBOURHOOD WALKS There’s no need to go too far for simple-yet-fun after Iftar activity, you can enjoy a walking session within the streets of your neighbourhood, especially if you live in a quiet, hilly area such as Madinat Al Ilam, Al Ansab, Muttrah Corniche, Airport Heights, or my personal favourite Bousher.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED

BEACHES

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IFTAR

SHANGRI-LAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IFTAR SPREAD STORY SHRUTHI NAIR PHOTOGRAPHY SALIM AL AFIFI

Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa is the place to be this Ramadan as this luxury hotel has a lot planned for its guests and visitors throughout the Holy Month. Break your fast at the Al Tanoor Restaurant where you will be served an array of Middle Eastern specialties and international dishes in a softly lit, intimate ambience where you can enjoy a private dining experience with your family and friends. IFTAR BUFFET OMR18 nett per person. OMR15, if you come in a group of 20 members or more

DISHES NOT TO MISS Mezze: Fattoush, Hummus, Moutabel, Tabouleh, Muhammarah Main course: Kabouli Chicken, King Fish Muttafay, Meat Balls with Tomato Sauce Desserts: Kanafeh, Um Ali

HOURS: 6.30pm until 11.00pm

Contact Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Al Tanoor Restaurant +968 2477 6565

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DINE IN SUHOOR

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FRESH, FILLING ARABIC BREAKFAST STORY FELICIA CAMPBELL | PHOTOGRAPHY SHABIN E

or Suhoor, put together a fast, fresh Middle Eastern breakfast. Start with the beans after Iftar and purchase pre-made mezze, like hummus, labneh, and moutabel from the supermarket to serve alongside fresh chopped fruits and vegetables, flatbread, and the beloved breakfast staple, ful medames. This bean dish has variations all over the Middle East, but no matter how you make it, you’ll end up with a tasty dish that is full of filling fibres and protein, making it ideal for fuelling-up before a day of fasting. Try this super recipe from Claudia Roden’s The New Book of Middle Eastern Food.

FUL MEDAMES Makes 6 servings Ingredients • 2 cups small Egyptian fava beans (ful medames), soaked overnight and left unpeeled • Salt • 1/3 cup chopped ﬂat-leaf parsley • Extra-virgin olive oil • 3 lemons, quartered • Salt and pepper • 4–6 cloves garlic, crushed • Chilli-pepper ﬂakes • Cumin Preparation • As the cooking time varies depending on the quality and age of the beans, it is good to cook them in advance and to re-heat them when you are ready to serve. Cook the drained beans in a fresh portion of unsalted water in a large saucepan with the lid on until tender,

adding water to keep them covered, and salt when the beans have softened. They take 2–2 1/2 hours of gentle simmering. When the beans are soft, let the liquid reduce. It is usual to take out a ladle or two of the beans and to mash them with some of the cooking liquid, then stir this back into the beans. This is to thicken the sauce. • Serve the beans in soup bowls sprinkled with chopped parsley and accompanied by Arab bread. • Pass round the dressing ingredients for everyone to help themselves: a bottle of extravirgin olive oil, the quartered lemons, salt and pepper, a little saucer with the crushed garlic, one with chilli-pepper ﬂakes, and one with ground cumin. • The beans are eaten gently crushed with the fork, so that they absorb the dressing. Optional Garnishes and Variations • Peel hard-boiled eggs — 1 per person — to cut up in the bowl with the beans. • Top the beans with a chopped cucumberand-tomato salad and thinly sliced mild onions or scallions. Otherwise, pass round a good bunch of scallions and quartered tomatoes and cucumbers cut into sticks. • Serve with pickles and sliced onions soaked in vinegar for 30 minutes. • Another way of serving ful medames is smothered in a garlicky tomato sauce • In Syria and Lebanon, they eat ful medames with yoghurt or feta cheese, olives, and small cucumbers. • A traditional way of thickening the sauce is to throw a handful of red lentils (1/4 cup) into the water at the start of the cooking. • In Iraq, large brown beans are used instead of the small Egyptian ones, in a dish called badkila, which is also sold for breakfast in the street.

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RAMADAN MEMORIES STORY DEEBA HASAN

he aroma of the delectable goodies wafting all over the house, the early morning walks with my family, the beautiful time spent preparing Iftar together, lavish Iftar spreads, meeting and greeting friends, the excitement during Iftar, late night shopping and the time spent contemplating the spirit of the Holy Month. Ramadan always brings back tons of memories, especially of all my wonderful time spent in Oman — the country that I call home. I came to Oman as a little girl and can’t recall much from the previous Ramadans’ I had back in India, my home country. Growing up in Oman has given me a much better understanding of the month, in terms of its meaning and significance. And while I always admired the concept of having fewer working hours during Ramadan, what truly inspired me was to see changes in the lifestyle of people during the Holy Month. Ramadan always meant trying to follow a different pattern in eating and sleeping, and certainly more prayers. It was a little difficult to understand that at first, but when you see everyone around you doing the same, you tend to understand the essence of fasting and also imbibe the spirit. When I was fasting for the first time, I had visited a supermarket with my parents when we were done with our shopping, we bought packets of chips and chocolates as a usual habit.

I was about eight-years old and fasting, but my little brother was not, as he did not reach the age. When we got into the car, he took out the large bag of potato chips and started munching on them. I unmindfully put my hand in the bag and pulled out some pieces and started eating them. It just slipped out of my mind that I was fasting. My mother soon reminded me that I was fasting, and that’s when I stopped munching and stared at her. I knew I was guilty of breaking my fast, a little too soon. My mother then asked me to eat, thinking that I was not ready for the commitment yet. I still laugh whenever I reminisce that day’s incident. I love the Arabian traditions which relate with Ramadan — the tents, the colourful lamps called ‘Fanoos’ put up in all the hotels and restaurants, making the place look all dreamy and exquisite, and some of the other rich and beautiful customs. They just made me feel like I was in a different world. In Oman, I learnt of another popular custom called ‘Qaranqasho’, which basically falls on the night of the 14th day of Ramadan and is a highly anticipated event, especially among the children, who get sweets and goodies by going around their neighbourhood, singing the Qaranqasho song. I was also part of a few of these during my growing up years. Although I never really practised it, I always thought that it must be so much fun, especially in the interiors of Oman, where communities are more involved with each other than those in the city.

My fondest memories I think are of the early morning walks which we used to take right after the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and Fajr (early morning) prayers. That was very thrilling because we would drive to the Qantab beach, which back then was a large one as compared to what it is now, and watch the sunrise. That was an everyday thing and as soon as the sun was out, we would start exploring the ruins near Qantab — it was so much fun. Wish I could re-live those golden moments. Food exchange is also something that I learnt from Ramadan. Luckily we had two Omani families staying close to us, and every day without fail during Ramadan, we gave them our samosas, bhajias, and pizzas, and they would share some of their delights with us including luqaimat, mandazi, fatayr and other delicious items. Late night shopping has always been the best thing about Ramadan in Oman, when malls are open until after midnight, and restaurants attract tonnes of people for Suhoor (the pre-dawn meal). Most importantly through Ramadan I learnt the signiﬁcance of being together as a family and the importance of contemplation and fasting. Going to mosques for the Taraweeh (night prayers) and just that whole repetition of prayers, fasting, charity and seeing so much goodness around me, is something that can really not be expressed. I am so grateful that I grew up in a country like Oman, where goodness prevails to no end and only increases its level in Ramadan. -deeba@timesofoman.com

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MADE IN

OMAN

Celebratory Chocolates

This month Hi celebrates forwardthinking Omani entrepreneurs who are not only building their businesses, but also the future of their nation

STORY OLGA AYMERICH PHOTOGRAPHY SHABIN E.

NAME: Khawla Nasser Khalaf Al Bahri HOMETOWN: Barka COMPANY NAME: Prestige BUSINESS TYPE: Personalised Chocolate for Events YEAR STARTED: 2015 CLAIM TO FAME: Delicious engraved chocolates NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 1 INSPIRATION: Chocolates and more chocolates What inspired you to start your business? I know everyone likes to serve chocolate in their events and celebrations. Be it for birthdays, weddings, or any special occasions, chocolates are must. So I decided to sell chocolates as a home business for these occasions. Since I was not satisﬁed with the quality of chocolates available in the stores I decided to open my own chocolate factory.

white chocolate, free sugar chocolate, and black chocolate. What was your greatest challenge when you ﬁrst got started? The biggest challenge was to have something different, something special that no one else offers in Oman to attract the customers. And I found it. I engrave names and pictures to my chocolates to match each event and I don’t repeat it. What’s your biggest challenge now that you are up and running? To keep it up after the novelty. But the demand is stable so we are in the right track.

from outside although they like and prefer local products, because the offer is not big and diverse enough. If you could give one piece of advice to someone thinking about starting a business here in Oman, what would it be? Marketing. As much as you can and in any way. Through social media, word of mouth, and free samples it is important to let people discover you. If you were chocolate, what kind would you be? Dark chocolate because I am very sarcastic. —HiWeekend@timesofoman.com

What do you personally see is your greatest success so far? My customers are happy with my chocolate and they come back again and again. I consider this as a big success.

How do you describe your business to your best friends? I tell them I have chocolates for all their needs.

What is your dream for your company? We are very new. We opened in 2015. We want to stabilise ﬁrst and then become a bigger company in the future.

What’s your favourite product that you sell? Currently I have four types of chocolate in my small factory. Milk chocolate,

What do you hope to see as far as the development of your industry as a whole in Oman? People still import most of the products

LOCATION Barka, main road, R & B Building CONTACT + 968 9790 7712 / + 968 9247 7010 SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: prestige.chocolate

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FINDING THE LOST WORLD STORY MOHAMMED SHAFEEQE

PHOTOGRAPHY DR MOHAMMED AL KINDI

Geologists, who explored the new caves in Jebel Al Akhdar, found a fascinating world deep inside the mountain, adding to Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many geological wonders.

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ver dreamt of ﬁnding the lost worlds? Here in Oman, a group of curious scientists from Germany and Oman have done it with the help of some of the local people in Jebel Al Akhdar. We know that the ‘green mountain’ is famous for its cool climate, terraced gardens and views, and is one of the major tourist attractions in Oman. But what lies beneath this staggering mountain is an amazingly beautiful world of unknown that can tell you the geologic and climatic history of Oman dating back to millions of years. Until recently those who knew about these caves were the local people living near the caves, who used to graze their goats in the area. Some of the goats accidentally fell into these dark holes and disappeared and so they are well aware of the holes in the earth in the mountains. With their inputs and help a group of passionate geologists from GUtech and Oman set out to explore the cave chambers which are hidden from mankind all these years. What was unfolded before them was a fascinating world underground, which is just another mosaic stone of Oman’s geological wonders. The jaw-dropping pictures by former president of Geological Society of Oman Dr Mohammed Al Kindi who was part of the team, after the caves were discovered for the ﬁrst time by locals recently, tells the geo-history of Oman from millions of years back. German geoscientist and lecturer at the Department of Applied Geosciences at GUtech, Matthias López

Correa, who was part of the team of explorers says that what they came across was stunning and it was not a kind of funded research project, but a private research undertaken on weekends. “The idea is to document the caves in the Jebel Akhdar Mountains to find out where we have caves, what is inside, which part of the mountains, is there life inside, basically it is not purely about discovering new caves, but about documenting them.” According to the scientist, there are many beautiful caves in Oman because the mountains are made of limestone. “The limestones formed in the ocean some 200 million years ago. Most of the Hajar Mountains are made of such ancient limestones, the type of rock in which natural caves form. So we can expect a lot of undiscovered caves inside the mountains, but finding them is very difficult.” While pointing out his concerns for the protection of this fragile environment inside our Earth, Matthias said, “I think the caves recently found are among the many caves to be discovered in the area. However, despite the beauty of the cave it is very important to mention that a cave is a highly vulnerable environment that needs to be protected. Only experts who have the right equipment should access the cave and not the general public.” The caves are formed by water as it goes through the rocks and dissolves the limestone along its path to form the cavities through millions of years. We need to find out how old they are, because it can tell us about how the mountains formed and when the valleys have incised in the mountains. The caves are, in fact, the

pathway of water through the mountains. Oman, when compared to the Himalayan and Alpine countries, have fewer rains. That is why the caves in Oman gain importance. These caves are natural museums. They are like archives. If you go inside the caves you will ﬁnd a lot of speleothems (dripstones). They are like stalactites and this kind of dripstones look very beautiful. They are formed by calcium carbonate precipitated from the dripwater. They look so beautiful and are very easy to be destroyed. This is why we need to protect some caves from the general public,” Matthias said. But on the other hand, for geologists and scientists these caves are interesting and according to them they tell us about times when there was much more rain in Oman. “Oman is actually in a very special geographical position. India, which is adjacent to Oman on the other side of the sea, receives excessive amount of rain during monsoons every year. But this rain doesn’t reach Oman today and it is a desert country. Only in Salalah do we get these monsoon clouds. During the last Ice Age which was about twenty thousand years ago, the monsoon clouds did reach further north to Muscat, Nizwa, and the Hajar Mountains. The speleothems inside the caves in this part of the Hajar Mountains can tell us about this period. Today they are dry, but they were formed by water. Oman was a very wet country once,” Matthias observed. “These caves are formed over millions of years of time. All the dripstone formations inside the caves are also formed over ten thousand to hundred thousands of

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OUT OF THE TWO CAVES FOUND RECENTLY, THE CAVE NAMED ‘KHISLAT HAYL AL DIYAR’, WHICH IS NOW PROTECTED AS PER THE DIRECTIVE OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, IS 40 METRES DEEP. ONE HAS TO GO DOWN 40 METRES ON A ROPE IN A NARROW PIT, WHICH MAKES IT A DIFFICULT PLACE TO ESTABLISH A TOURISTIC SPOT.

years of time. From the aesthetic point it is very simple to destroy them, by putting a footprint over it. If you take a piece of the dripstones out of the caves and put it in a dry room it won’t look nice any more. So the best place where you can store them is in the caves. That is why I said it is like museums, it is very old and very beautiful and very easy to destroy. These caves are very important on account of the study of climate change over thousands of years and the geology of the country. We can ﬁnd out how old these stones are and reconstruct when it was raining in Oman or when there was a different climate in Oman than today. So they are very important for science. On the other hand some of the caves are also very interesting for tourism,” he said. Out of the two caves found recently, the cave named ‘Khislat Hayl Al Diyar’, which is now protected as per the directive of the Ministry of Environment, is 40 metres deep. One has to go down 40 metres on a rope in a narrow pit, which makes it a difficult place to establish a touristic spot. “This is a very beautiful cave but I feel only few people will ever see it. There is, however, an amazing village in Jebel Akhdar, Sogra, which has an oasis and a wadi, with houses built on the rock edges like nests of birds and the local people in the village are trying to develop small scale tourism there. And they brought us few days ago to a beautiful cave, called Amer Cave. It is a very large cave and we were able to map several hundred metres inside the cave. It is an accessible cave and the villagers are working to ﬁnd a way to open it for

mild tourism,” he said. The Amer Cave is a huge tunnel going into the mountain and the scientists haven’t seen the end of the cave yet. Only half-a-kilometre has been mapped so far. The plan of the researchers is to survey and map the caves further with new devices. According to Matthias, some of the caves found in the area are deeper than the famous Majlis Al Jinn caves. “Some protective measure should be taken to protect the easily accessible caves. We need to raise the awareness about these caves. These speleotherms are made over millions of years and can be broken in just few seconds. From my point of view there are a lot of caves to be discovered in Oman’s mountains. This is just a beginning,” he claimed. “Even though Oman has great potential for geo-tourism, if you build huge hotels in some of the most beautiful spots of the country it may disturb what we would like to show. We should ﬁnd a delicate way to use the nature without destroying it and without disturbing the lives of the local villagers,” Matthias added. The study on caves is done with a scientiﬁc concept. The team comprises Dr Mohammad Al Kindi, and Andreas Wolf the vice-president of the German Speleological Society. Matthias López Correa has been involved in cave research since his childhood in the South of Germany. Later on, during his studies at university and over the years he has been involved in international cave research including the survey of the Ghar Alisadr in Iran, a 13km long cave. —shafeeqe@timesofoman.com

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US National Day ceremony organised by the Embassy of the United State of America in Muscat held at the Grand Hyatt.

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Before

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After

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Ramadan Activities and Initiatives at Dar Al Atta’a

ar Al Atta’a has several activities and initiatives lined up for the Holy Month of Ramadan. “During Ramadan this year, we have almost 12 activities across the Sultanate,” says May Al Bayat, head of marketing department at Dar Al Atta’a. This includes Ramadan ration distribution, Hand in Hand with Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Qaranqasho with Bank Sohar, the 17th SME Forum, Iftar Sa’em and Kaswat Al Eid distributed envelopes, Dar Al Atta’a tables at commercial centres, Al Obaidani boxes and envelopes, house renovations with Omantel, donation boxes with City Centre Muscat and Qurum, Iftar Sa’em campaign at mosques, shopping at Sabco Centre Campaign, and (One Rial) campaign. Starting with Ramadan Ration this campaign is to distribute ration which includes essentials worth of OMR30 per box. “Each year, we have our Dar Al Atta’a tables at three locations, but this year we have expanded to 21 locations to reach out more commercial centres for those who wish to donate,” May added. For more information, contact Dar Al Atta’a +968 2469 2996, +968 2460 2882 or via Social Media, on twitter @daralattaa, instagram: daralatta & facebook: facebook.com/daralatta

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Sky Jewellery anniversary celebrations held at its outlet in Muscat.

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Omani Travel and Tourism Bureau (OTTB) will be exclusively representing Thai Air Asia X (TAAX) in Oman. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed between Amal Suhail Bahwan, Vice Chairperson of Suhail Bahwan Group and Nadda Buranasiri, CEO of Thai AirAsia X.

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SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY Fill empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column, and area.

Level | Very Easy

Level | Easy

2 6 7

1 1

3 8

3 5

7 4

2 7

Level | Difficult

2 4

4 8

8 7

4 3

1 3

5 1

6 4

Level | Moderate

3 5

2 4

8 3

4 9

VISIT US AT FACEBOOK.COM/HIWEEKLY FOR THE SOLUTIONS TO THIS WEEKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PUZZLE